Apparatus for delivering and affixing labels, postage stamps, and the like



Jan. 7, 1936. H. KOMUSIN GEE: PETTERSSON 2,027,287

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIXING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed .May 10, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet l EMF Jan; 7, 1936. H. KOMUSIN GEB. PETTE'RssoN 2,027,287 APFARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIXING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE 1'1 v w 1 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 II I I w Q w I v in I l I 1935- v H. KOMUSIN GEB. PETTERSSON 2,

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND.AFFIXING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed'May 10, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 I: 39 ii' (97 264 a g *265 i=9 ii i 91 Jrzvezzior:

Jan. 7, 1936- H. KOMUSIN GEB. PETTERSSON 2,027,287 vAPPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIXING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMPS AND' THE LIKE Filed May 10, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet "93 A Z73 11.5 95 I 4 4 1 0 J55 AMA $2M); m Yip/W 1936- H. KOMUSIN GEB. P ETTERSS ON 2,027,287

.APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIXING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed May 10, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 7, 1936- H. KOMUSIN GEB. PET-TERSSON 2,027,287

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIXING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMFS AND THE LIKE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 10, 1934 M x 2 E w w Q; i m M L| m o0 9 Shee'ts-Sheet 7 Inventor: XZ/Z/{QW Mil-Jaw H. KOMUSIN GEB. PETTERS SON APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIXING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE Filed May 10, 1954 6 2 0 m a 7 M 7 .0 [Il I 2 a I HHFH W0. m m ,0 L, W H w 4 H My W M 1 z a r |l H w r 2 LII I i 1 lli: 1.H\ N H 2 m H H i W Q 2 w r 2 a P 7 1 n A m 5 6 H l 2 Z W M W I 1936- HI KoMusm GEB. PETTERSSON 2,027,237

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIXING LABELS POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LIKE -FJ '.led May 10, 1934 S Sheet'S-Sheet 8 922 I J22 WW.-

Jan.7, 1-936. H. KOMUSIN GEB. PETTERSSON 2,027,287 APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIXING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMPS AND THE LiKE Filed May 10, 1934 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 OOOSOOOO ZZFJ Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES.

APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND AFFIX- ING LABELS, POSTAGE STAMPS, AND THE LIKE Hilde Komusin, geb. Pettersson, Berlin-Treptow, Germany Application May 10, 1934, Serial No. 724,958

, In Germany October 31, 1932 '11 Claims. (Cl. 216-25) This invention relates to a small hand operated apparatus for delivering, afilxing and, if necessary, defacing labels, postage stamps and the like.

5 The ailixing of postage stamps, registered" numbers, excise stamps and similar gummed labels by hand is inconvenient and wastes time; and moreover, it does not allow any automatic control concerning the consumption. Appara- 1 tuses are already known for aflixing postage stamps on letters, printed matter and the like andfor defacing thesame, but these apparatus allow no control of the delivery so that they can be used indiscriminately, that is also by, unau- 15 thorized persons.

As compared herewith the invention relates to an apparatus, which, in spite of its small size,

, ensures an absolutely reliable delivery and aillxing of the stamps or labels and, if necessary, also of stamps of different values or of several kinds of gummed labels. The considerable simplification of the apparatus according to the invention is rendered pomble by the fact that a driving -device, rotated during the forward movement of 25 the apparatus, controls the arrangements for unwinding the strip from a storage reel and those for severing, moistening and aillxing the portion of the strip delivered. It is particularly advantageous to rotate the driving device directly by the forward movement of the apparatus over the support on which the stamps are to be aiilxed. The employment or a common driving device for all the individual devices arranged in the interior ot the apparatus enables the manipulations which must be carriedout by the operator to be limited to a single operation, contrary to the known arrangements, in which the end of the labeltobeaillxedmustbeflrstbroughtontothe" letter or other support by separate manipulations. 1

' The common driving device can finther control other devices, especially when employing the apparatus for aiilxing postage stamps, which devices eifect the addition of the values of all the stamps delivered, and other devices which mark either the stamp or the letter on which it is.

ailixed or both for the purpose of defacement.

Several embodiments of the invention are illusdrawings in which:--

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through an apparatus designed to deliver, for example two kinds of gummedlabels.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view 01 Fig. 1, partly in section.

trated by way of example in the accompanying Fig. 3 shows in its operative position a lever for starting the machine.

Fig. 4 shows the driving device in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the pressure roller.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of Fig. 5. 5

Fig. '7 shows a modified form of construction of the machine in left side elevation after the removal of the side wall.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view or the gearing after 10 removal of the stamp cap.

Fig. 10 shows the side wall of the gearing with the moistening device removed.

Fig. 10a shows in adifferent position some of the parts illustrated in Fig. 10.

Fig. 11 is a top plan view showing some of the parts of the moistening device on a larger scale.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the moistening roller. 30 Fig. 14 is a section on line XIV-XIV of Fig. 13

showing also the water tank.

Fig. 15 is an internal view of the left side part of the gearing supporting frame with the gearing elements carried thereby.

Fig. 151: shows some of these gearing elements in a different operative position.

Fig. 16 shows in top plan view some of these gearing elements on a larger scale.

Figs. l'rand 170. show in side elevation these so gearing elements in two different positions.

Fig. 18 is an internal view of the right side part of the gearing carrier frame with the gearing elements carried thereby.

Fig. 19 is an external view of Fig. 18.

Fig. 20 is a top plan view of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is an enlarged cross section through the pressure drum taken on line XXI-XXI of Fig. 22.

Fig. 22 is a longitudinal section through the pressure drum taken on line XXII-XXII of Fig. 21

Mg. 23 shows the drive for a wall device for the stamps.

Fig. 24 is a top plan view of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 shows a printed impression.

Fig. 26 is a side elevation of the inking device.

27 is a front elevation of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a left side elevation of a stamp cap. 60

Fig. 29 is a right side elevation of Fig. 28.

Fig. 30 is an end view of Fig. 28.

Fig. 31 is a cross section through the stamp car taken on line xxxI-xxm of Fig. 28.

Fig. 32 is a left side elevation of the stamp cap, with cover and protecting'hood for guiding the stamps removed.

Fig. 33 is a left side elevation of the elements on the right side wall of the stamp cap.

Fig. 34 is a front end view on a larger scale showing the severing device.

Fig. 35 is a side elevation of Fig. 34.

Fig. 36 is a rear end view of Fig. 34.

Fig. 36a shows the individual parts in a secand operative position.

Fig. 37 is an enlarged top plan view of the stamp guide.

Fig. 38 is a bottom plan view of Fig. 3'7.

Fig. 39 is a longitudinal section of the stamp guide on line XXXIX-XXXIX of Fig. 37.

Fig. 40 shows a locking device for the stamp cap.

Fig. 41 shows a stamp strip.

The form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7 may be employed, for example, for selectively 'aflixing on mail register labels and express labels or any other kind of labels. such as are used in postal service, and for separately recording the delivery of the labels. The apparatus comprises a casing I open onthe greater part at the top and bottom and closed at the rear by an easily removable cover 2. A small compartment is formed in the front portion of the casing by a partition 8, and accessible from the front after the removal of an easily'removable cover 4. The cover 4 in the apparatus is constructed as aninsertable cover which is-held at its upper edge by a snap lock comprising a spring 6 (Fig. 1). According to the width of the casing I one or several boxes 8 can be inserted therein from the rear and from the top, which boxes, when several are employed, lie directly side by side between the side walls of the casing I. The boxes 8 are open at the front and provided on one side with a cover 8 (Fig. 2) fixed by screws and preferably adapted to be sealed. Each of the boxes 8 has a separate stationary cap ID in which a reel |2 carrying the rolled label or stamp'strip II can be inserted, and also the device serving for unwinding. severing and afilxing the labels or stamps. Each reel l2 has a core i8 designed to be slipped on to a hollow axle |4 fixed in the cap i8 on the closed wall of the box 8 and is freely rotatable on this axle, the core being then secured in position by a pin l5 fixed on the cover 9 and pushed into the hollow axle |4 during the application of the cover 9.

The device for unwinding, severing and affixing the stamps is constructed in the following manher: A drum constructed as driving device is composed of two lateral circular discs I1 and a core |8 of slightly smaller diameter than the discs and rotatably mounted on an axle l6 fixed in the side walls of the box 8. The core i8 has in the middle of its wall an annular milled recess l9 (Fig. 4) bordered by the thicker ends 28 of the core. (In Figs. 1 and 2 the drum i1, i8 is shown somewhat more simple for the sake of clearness.) The thicker ends 28 (according to Fig. 1 together with the whole core l8) cooperate with a pressure roller 2| which engages between the discs l1 and comprises a core 22 covered with a layer of rubber or the like. It is rotatable on an axle 28 which is mounted in a fork 24.

This fork 2 4 is fixed on the lower end of a bolt 26( Figs. 1, 5, 6) and secured against rotation by any suitable means. To enable the pres sure roller to be lifted from the drum l1, l8 for a purpose which will be hereinafter described, a sleeve 26 rotatable in two bracket arms 21 fixed on the wall of the box 8, is slipped on to the bolt 25 and rests with its lower end on the fork 24. A spiral spring 29 hearing against a disc 28 on the sleeve 26 tends to always move the sleeve 26 and consequently the pressure roller 2| into their lower extreme position (Fig. 1) The upper end of the sleeve 26 projects through the upper wall of the box 8 and carries a small hand crank 88 by means of which the sleeve 26 can be rotated without the fork 24 and the pressure roller 2| participating in this movement. A ring 8| is fixed on the upper bracket arm 21 at a point concentric to the centre of the sleeve 26 and a horizontal pin 32 projecting from the sleeve 26 bears on the inclined upper surface of this ring 8|. If the sleeve 26 is turned by means of the crank 88, the pin 82 slides upwards on the inclined surface of the ring 8| and ,thus lifts the sleeve 26 against the action of the spring 28 until the pin finally comes into contact with a vertical pin 88 of the ring 8| and thus limits the stroke of the sleeve 26 and of the pressure roller 2|. By turning the crank 88 in the opposite direction, the pressure roller 2| is again brought into.

contact with the drum |'|/|8.

A beak-like guide 84, fixed on the cap l8 in front of the delivery slot for the labelor stampstrip projects into the angle formed between the drum "H 8 and the pressure roller 2|. The label or stamp strip unwinding from the reel i2 slides along this guide 84 and is fed to the contact line of said drum and roller in order to be gripped therebetween and unwound from the reel l2. On the edges 28 of the drum core l8 small pins 85 are mounted on at least a portion of the circumference, and engage in corresponding annular grooves 86 in the pressure roller 2| ensuring thus a reliable gripping and pulling of the label strip The drum core i8 is, in the example illustrated in Fig. 1, of such diameter that a portion of the strip corresponding exactly to the length of one label is pulled off the reel |2 during half a rotation of the drum |'I/|8, whereas the pressure roller 2| performs a complete revolution during this movement. The ends 28 of the core l8 are slightly recessed at two diametrically opposite portions 81 so that, when these portions are under the pressure roller 2| neither the pressure roller 2| is rotated nor the label strip pulled oi! the reel I2.

The pressure roller 2| has on one of its side faces a pin 38 which oscillates at every rotation of the roller 2| a lever 89 of a step by step counting mechanism 48 and feeds this mechanism one step.. After the pin 88 has passed the control lever 39 is returned into its initial position in known manner by means of a spring. As the counting mechanism 48 is thus operated each time a label is delivered, the number of labels delivered is accurately recorded.

When a label has been unwound from the reel l2, it is severed exactly from; the label strip II at the prescribed length. For this purpose transverse blades 4| (Fig. 1) are arranged one at each of two opposite points in the drum core i8 and mounted on one or' several shanks 42. These shanks are radially'shiftable in corresponding bores in the core l8 and at their inner ends each one, under the action of a spiral spring 48 which bears at one end against a disc 44 and at the other end against the bottom of a segment-shaped cover 46 serving for guiding its respective blade 4 I, bears against the bottom of an annular groove 45 proviied in the axle 15. A small cam 41 is provided in the annular groove 45 at the upper side of the shaft I5, which forces the blade shank 42 actually sliding thereover to move radially outwards and to thus press its respective blade 4|.

' against the label strip unwound from the reel I2.

Thus, the front edge of the strip pressed on to the pins 35, for which the rubber covering of the pressure roller 2| opposite the blade 4| serves as yieldable counter bearing, is sharply severed and participates alone in the rotation of the drum II/I5, whereas the label strip proper remains stationary because a recessed portion 31 of the core ends extends directly from each of the blades 4|. Only when the normal portion of the end 20 again comes into contact withthe pressure roller 2| is the label strip I again unwound from the reel I2.

Shortly before the severed label is lifted from the drum |I/|8 in a manner which will be described and stuck on the latter or the like, it is moistened on its outwardly directed rear side by means of a small felt roller 48 (Fig. 1). The necessary moisture is supplied bya liquid container 49 comprising a drum with perforated wall and surrounded by a yarn winding 55 or the like. The axles or journals of both the felt roller 45 and the moisture container 49 rest in bearing slots of a rocker frame in which they are held by pressure exerted by springs (not shown) so that they are permanently in contact with one another. The rocker frame 5| rests with its journals52 in horizontal or slightly inclined open slots of two bearings 53-flxed on the inner walls of the casing and it is held by a nut 54 of a screw 55 which is hingedly mounted on the partition 3 and can be inserted in a vertical slot 55 (Fig. 1) in a transverse bridge 51 connecting the two checks of the rocker frame 5|. The more the nut 54 is tightened, the more the lower end of the frame 5| will swing towards the drum I'I/ I5 and press the felt roller 45 against this drum.

When the pressure necessary for suhiclently moistening the label has been attained. the rocker frame 5| may be secured in its position by two screws 58 which are each rotatable in a block 55 of the rocker frame cheeks and are each pressed tightly against a supporting bracket-55 fixed on the adjacent side wall of the casing I. The frame 5| is thus clamped'so that it cannot move.

The supply of water to the liquid container 45 is effected through one of its journals.

After the moistening of the rear side of the label or stamp it is removed from the drum I'I/ I5 and affixed on the letter or other piece of mail.

For this purp se a box 5 directly behind the drum II/ |5. Two twoarmed levers 53 are also rotatably mounted on the axle 52 one on each side of the pressure roller 5|. These levers are interconnected at the front ends by a scoop-like bridge-54 and each loaded at the rear end by a spring 55. The springs 55 press the front edge of the bridge 54 permanently against the wall of the drum core II or against the bottom of the recessed portion I9, (Fig. 4). If the drum II/Il is turned so that the front edge of the severed label approaches the scoop-shaped bridge 54, the label slides on to the wedge-shaped bridge 54 and is thus automatically lifted off the pins 55 or off the ends 25 of the drum, whereupon it slides under the pressure roller 5| which presses it tightly on to the letter.

small pressure roller 5| ismounted freely rotatable on an axle 52 in the- As already mentioned, the drum II/ I8 and the pressure roller 2| are of such diameters that the length of the end of the label strip actually to be unwound from the reel is in a predetermined proportion to the angle of rotation of these two elements. In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 this proportion is, for example chosen so that a length of the label, (in the present instance a long narrow strip like a registered label is imagined), corresponds to half a rotation of the drum "H8 and to a complete rotation of the pressure roller 2|. It is evidently necessary for the apparatus'to be automatically looked after the delivery of a label or stamp in order to prevent the further rotation of the drum |I/|8 and the sticking of a second label or stamp on the same letter or mail piece. For this purpose the following locking device is providedz-According to the division of the drum "I I5 it is provided on one of its side faces with one or several pins 55, into the path of which the point of a small two-armed lever 51 projects which lever is pivotally mounted on the adjacent wall of the casing The rear end of this lever 51 has a pin 58 which engages in a guide slot in the eye-shaped lower end 55 of a rod I0, which is vertically sliiftable 'in two small angle pieces II and loaded by a spiral spring I2 in such a manner that it always tends tomove downwards and to bear against a stop I3. The pin 55 in passing swings the lever 51 into the position shown in dot-dash lines and thus causes the rod III to move upwards against the action of the spring I2. Generally, however, the shifting of the rod is prevented by the following arrangement: A

either in its verticallocking position (Fig. 1) or a in its releasing position (Fig. 3) shown in dotdash lines in Fig. 1, so that this lever can only be moved into the one or other of these two positions by overcoming a certain resistance. If the lever I4 is raised out of its released position (Fig. 3) into its locking position (Fig. 1), its lower end passes downwards through a slot I8 (Fig. 2) in the roof of the casing and thus comes into the path of the rod I0 so that this rod canmains in inoperative position (Fig. 1) and prevents'a further'rotatiorr-of the drum |I,-'I 5 when the pin of this drum bears against the lever. If, however, the lever I4 has been turned by hand into its releasing position (Fig. 3)," the drum II/I5 can continue to rotate unimpeded also after one of the two pins 55 has encountered the lever 51, and thus effects the unwinding of a corresponding length of the label strip. During th's rotation the lever 51 merely yields into the position shown'in dot-dash lines and thus lifts the rod I5. This rod has at its upper end a lateral bayonet shaped extension I5 which extends through a small slot in the casing roof up to the folded over lever I4. If the rod I5 is raised, its extenmon- I5 participates in this movement, pushes the upper arm of the lever I4 in upward direction and thus returns this lever into its locking position (Fig. 1) After each delivery of not be shifted upwards. Thus, the lever 51 reon the casing by hand. The drum II/I8 and therewith also all other parts of the apparatus should, however, only become operative after the whole apparatus has been correspondingly adjusted. For this purpose the following arrangement is provided: The lower edge of the discs H of the drum II/I8 projects downwards through an aperture in the bottom of the box 8; the lower portion of the pressure roller BI also projects.

through the bottom of the box 8. However, the box 8 is slightly lower than the casing I and is usually held in its upper extreme position shown in Fig. 1 by a pressure spring 82 bearing against a step 88 formed in the box 8 and guided on a pin 8| projecting upwards from the casing I. The upper portion of the rear wall of the box has two bores 88 in which a pin 85 fixed on a spring 84 and slidable in a hole in the casing cover 2 can engage. When the box 8 is in inoperative position (Fig. l) the pin 85 engages in the lower of the two bores 83 and thus locks the box in this position in which the lower portions of the drum -I'l/I8 are situated so high above the plane of the casing bottom that, even in the event of the casing I being pushed over a fiat support, they cannot come into contact therewith and consequently cannot be rotated. If it is desired to use the apparatus, the locking pin 85 must first be pulled out of the lower bore by means of the spring 88 and the box 8 pressed downwards into the casing by exerting a vertical pressure thereon by hand, until the locking pin '85 snaps into the upper bore 88 and thus locks the box 8 in its operative position. The bases of the lowermost points of the drum I'I/ I8 and of the roller 8| then project so far beyond the plane of the easing bottom as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 1, that the drum and the pressure roller will be rotated in anti-clockwise direction if the apparatus is pushed along a fiat surface. A toothed wheel 86 on the end of the drum cooperating with a spring controlled pawl prevents the drum I'I/I8 fromrotating in backward direction.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 is operated in the following manner: After removing the cover 8, a reel I2 with a strip of labels or stamps II'wound thereon is first inserted in the cap I8 and the outer end of the strip is pulled through the lateral cap slot, provided for this purpose, until it lies fiat on the guide 34 with its front edges projecting slightly beyond this guide, so that the strip edge engages in the angle formed between the drum core l8 andthe pressure roller 2|. A braking device not shown in the drawings prevents accidental changes in the position of the strip end towards the front or rear. After the cover 8 has been again closed and the box 8 placed in the casing I, the apparatus is ready for use. When it is desired to use the same, the box 8 in question is first pressed downwards into the operative position. whereupon the lever I4 normally in inoperative position is moved into its releasing position (Fig. 3) and the pressure roller 2| brought into contact with the drum II/I8 by turning the crank 88. If the apparatus is then placed on the letteror the like to be stamped .roller 6|.

and pushed with the hand slightly forward, the

discsv I! of the drum I'I/I 8 and the pressure roller 6| will roll on the support. Owing to the rotation of the drum II/I8 the pressure roller 2| is also rotated so that a corresponding length of the label or stamp strip II is pulled oil? the reel I 2 and severed by the blade M which is actually uppermost; the severed label is then moistened by the felt roller 48, lifted off the drum I8/ I8 by the scoop-shaped stripping device 64 and finally affixed on to the letter or the like by the pressure During these operations the step-bystep counting mechanism 48 is fed one step and finally the lever I4 previously thrown over is again brought into its upright locking position (Fig. 1) by the cooperation of the roller journals 88, the lever 61, the rod 18 and its extension 18, the apparatus being thus provisionally locked against further use after the delivery of the label.

As above mentioned, the apparatus can only be returned into its operative position by again oscillating the lever 14. When the apparatus is no longer required for use, the spring 84 with the pin 85 is pulled back and the box 8 actually used is automatically returned into its inoperative position under the action of the pressure spring 82 and is again locked in this position by the pin 85 engaging in the lower bore 88.

The form of construction illustrated in Figs. I to 48, having a-much greater efficiency than the apparatus above described, serves also for cancelling the stamps, marking the place and time of issue and the owner of the apparatus, printing a control mark, for example a number on the stamp'and letter, recording not only the number but also the value of the stamps used, and if necessary for printing on the letter the balance of the stamps still in the machine. This form of construction is also characterized in that an unauthorized withdrawal of stamps from the open apparatus is renderd impossible by locking devices.

In this form of construction of the machine all the internal parts are also accommodated in a casing 81 having the shape illustrated in the longitudinal section in Fig. '7 and closed at its front end by a removable door 88 (Fig. 8) and at its rear end by a hinged door 88. Theleft side wall of the casing is easily removable for the.

purpose of removing the mechanical drive and is secured by means of four screws on corresponding lugs 88 (Fig. '7) of the casing 81. It carries on its upper edge a curved plate 8| for insertingthe thumb, whereas on the right side wall of the casing 81 an inclined gripping bar 82 is fixed under which the tips of the middle, third and little finger of the right hand, can engage for operating the machine. A knob 83 arranged in front of the gripping bar 92 must be inwardly pressed with the index finger of the right hand for. liberating .the mechanical drive before the commencement of every mechanical operation.

The mechanical drive is mounted in a frame which comprises a left side part 84 (Figs. 7, 9, 15, 18), a right side part 85 and two cross bars 88 and 81. The right side part 95 is fixed by screws 88 directly on the inner surface of the right casing wall, whereas the left side part 94 is secured by screws 88 to an angle bar I88 of the casing front end wall and to small lugs of the casing rear end wall. In the lower part of the frame 84, 85

an axle IN is nonrotatably mounted around which a pressure drum I82 can rotate freely. The pressure drum I82 projects so far through a square hole in the bottom of the casing that it position under the pressure of the rod spring.

rolls over a smooth surface when the machine is pushed forward. Every time the machine is used, the pressure drum I02 in this manner performs a complete revolution and is then automatically locked in the manner hereinafter described. The machine can only be used again, if the locked drum I02 is again liberated by exerting pressure with a finger on the knob 93. For this purpose the following arrangement is provided:--

n the inner surface of the left side part 94 of the frame a U-shaped strap I03 (Figs. 9, 10, 15) is fixed, and a forked push rod I04 is vertically shiftable through apertures in the arms of this strap. A pressure spring not shown in the drawings tends to continually press this push rod I04 downward and to thus hold it in the inoperative position shown in Figs. 10 and 15. The lower end of the push rod I04 bears against a pin I06 of asmall two-armed locking lever I06 which is pivotally mounted on a pin I01 on the left side part 94 of the frame, its left end (Fig. 15) pro- :Iecting into thepath of a pin I09 fixed in the left side wall of the pressure drum I02. If the drum I02 is rotated by pushing the machine in the direction of the arrow, the pin I09 swings the locking lever I06 in anti-clockwise direction and thus imparts a corresponding stroke to the push rod I04. After the passage of the pin I09, the spring then presses the push rod I04 and the locking lever I05 back into the locking position (Fi 15).

The free end of a second, but horizontal U- shaped strap, fixed on the inner surface of the right side part 95 of the frame, bears against the upper arm of the U-shaped strap I03 and serves as bearing for a shiftable. rod III. A tension spring II3 engaging a nose II2 on the rod IIO tends to maintain this rod I I I in the locking position shown in Fig. 10, in which a nose arranged on the free end of the rod III engages in the forked front end of the rod I04, thereby prevent-" ing it from being shifted by the pressure drum pin I09 and the locking lever I06 (Fig. 15).

' when the rods III and I04 are in this position,

the pin I09 is blocked by the locln'ng lever I06 that is, the pressure drum I02 is locked against rotation in the direction of the arrow so that the machine cannot operate.

On the upper surface of the U-shaped strap IIO a blade spring H5 is fixed which carries on its free downwardly bent end a nose II6 (Figs. 7, 9, 10). When the rod III is in its locking position (Fig. 10) the nose II6 resiliently bears against the upper edge of the rod III. If, however, the rod III is moved out of its position of rest into the position shown in Fig. 10:: by exerting pressure on the knob 99, the nose II6'drops into a notch I H in the rod III and thus prevents it from returning into its locking position. As, when the parts are in this position, the nose II 4 no longer rests in the forked upper end of the rod I04, the locking lever can yield to the pressure of the pin I09 during the rotation of the pressure drum I02, that is, the pressure drum is released and the machine is ready for operating. If the pressure drum I02 is now rotated and the locking lever I06 swung outwards by pushing forward the machine, the rod I04 is lifted, its upper end engages under the nose H6 and lifts this out of the notch III. The rod III now returns into its initial position under the pull of its spring II9, whereas directly thereafter the pin I09 libcrates the locking lever IN and thus allows this lever and the rod I04 to return into their initial The nose II4 of the rod III then again engages in the forked upper end of the rod I04 and again locks this rod and the locking lever I06 in their locking position. The pressure drum I02 can, however, complete the rotation which it has commenced but is then locked against further rotation because its pin I09 encounters the non-yield:- able locking lever I06. Only by again depressing the knob 93 can the pressure drum I02 be once more liberated and the machine made ready for a further operation.

0n the right side wall I I9 (Figs. 10, 19 and 20) of the pressure drum I02 a toothed wheel II2, a ratchet wheel I20 and a ring I2I are mounted, this ring having a cut out portion I22 directed rearwardly when the pressure drum I02 is in the inoperative position. The purpose of the toothed wheel H9 and of the ring I2I will be hereinafter described. A two-armed pawl I23 engages in the ratchet wheel I20 under the action of a tension spring I24 in such a manner that the drum I02 is prevented from rotating in the direction on the right hand side a forwardly directed boxshaped extension I26. As already mentioned above, stamps of any value can be delivered by the machine. The stamps of the same value are united to a strip or band I2'I (Fig. 41) which upon payment of a corresponding amount can be bought at any desiredlength at the post oiiice. For each stamp value a separate accordingly designated cap I25 must be installed. The cap shown in Fig. 28 is for instance designed exclusively to accommodate stamps in the value of five units, 1. e. 5 cents, 5 pfennigs. and the like. If, after the stamps of a certain value have been delivered, stamps of another value have to be used, the cap I25, which has been used, must be removed from the machine and replaced by a cap filled with stamps of the other value. With this object in view the folding door 99 arranged on the rear wall of the casing 91 is opened, the cap I25 which has been used before is pulled out by means of a handle I29 and instead of the same another cap is inserted into the machine, whereupon the door 89 is closed again. For the secure guiding and locking of the cap actually used in the machine the following arrangement is provided:-

The right hand side part 95 of the frame (Figs. 9, 18) has on its rear portion on the inner surface two horizontal guide bars I29, whereas the left frame part 94 (Figs. 9, 15) has on its inner surface two angular pressing springs I30 slightly inclining in a horizontal plane in forward direction. On the right side face of each stamp cap I25 and the extension I26 of the same (Fig. 29) a guide bar I3I is fixed the height of which corresponds accurately to the distance between the two guide bars I29. If the cap I25 is slipped into the machine, the springs I30 press uponthe lid- I32 of the cap in such a manner that the rounded point of the cap bar I3I inserted between the guide bars I26 slides between these guide bars in forward direction. Above the guide bars I29 a frame part 95 and permanently influenced by a pull spring I36. If a stamp cap I is slipped into the machine, its bar I3I (Fig. 29) forces the nose I34 (Fig. 18) upwards, swings the lever I33 and thus causes the three-armed lever I35 to turn in clockwise direction (Fig. 18). Thus, the hooked end I31 of the rearwardly directed arm of this lever I35 engages in a corresponding aperture I38 in the upper guide bar I29, whereas at the same time a lateral nose I39 on its downwardly directed arm engages in the above mentioned aperture I22 in the ring I2I (Fig. 19). This is, however, only possible as longas the pressure drum I02 is in its resting position. If this is not the case, but the pressure drum has already commenced its rotation, the aperture I22 of the ring I2! is no longer opposite the lever nose I39, and this nose bearsagainst the ring I2I as soon as the lever I33 endeavors to oscillate the three-armed lever I35. The levers I33 and I34 are thenlocked in their inoperative position (Figs. 18, 19), and consequently cannot be moved by the cap bar I3I. The nose I34 of the lever I33 therefore blocks the guide path for the cap bar formed by the guide bars I29, and prevents a cap I 25 from being inserted until the pressure drum I02 has completed its rotation and returned into its position of rest. If, however, a cap I25 has been inserted in the machine when the pressure drum I02 is in its correct resting position, the levers I33 and I have been able to perform the above described movements, and if the pressure drum I02 commences its rotation in the direction of the arrow, when the machine is pushed forward, the nose I39 of the threearmed lever I35 resting in -the aperture I22 of the ring I2I slides inwards on the bevelled lower bordering surface of the aperture I22 towards the middle of the ring I2I and thus effects a continuation of the already commenced lever rotation. The nose I31 of the rearwardly directed arm of the lever I35, which had just engaged in the aperture I38 of the upper guide bar I29 but not yet passed therethrough, drops into the guide path of the cap bar I3I and engages in a notch I in this guide bar (Fig. 29) so that it is not possible to pull the cap I25 out of the machine. As the nose I39 (Figs. 18, 19) of the downwardly directed arm of the lever I35, and consequently the lever itself, is held in the swung out position last described, during the entire rotation of the pressure drum I 02, the cap I25 actually inserted is locked against intentional pulling out until the pressure drum I02 has again assumed its resting position. The nose I39 then again engages in the aperture I22 in the ring I2I, whereas the nose I31 oi! the rearwardly directed lever arm I35 returns into the aperture. I38 of the upper guide bar I29 and thus again liberates the guide path for the cap bar I3I. If the cap I25 is again removed from the machine, the levers I33 and I 35 return into their inoperative position (Fig.

- At each delivery of a stamp its value is to be added in a value adding mechanism, and at the same time the emission of the stamp recorded in a step-by-step counter irrespective of its value.

The value adding mechanism should therefore always indicate the total value and the step-bystep counter the number of stamps used. For this purpose the following arrangement is provided:-

Abracket I42 is fixed on an angle piece I M (Figs. '1, 9, 18) bent at right angles, on the right side part 95, in which bracket both a step-bystep counter I43 and also a value adding mechanism I 44, both of well-known construction, are mounted. The step-by-step counter I43 is actu-- ated each time a spring-loaded control arm I45 is swung outwards, whereas the value adding mechanism is actuated by the more or less great angle of rotation of a toothed wheel I46. The box-shaped extension. I26 of each stamp cap I25 (Figs. 28, 30, 33) carries on the inner side of its right side wall a double gear comprising a small toothed wheel I41 and a slightly larger disc I 43 rigidly connected therewith. The disc I48 is provided on its edge with a plurality of teeth corresponding to the actual stamp value and on its right side face with a pin I49. As long as the cap I25 is not inserted in the machine, the double gear I41, I48 is locked against rotation in the manner hereinafter described. However, as soon as the cap is properly slipped into the machine. the double gear I41, I48 is automatically released and coupled with a toothed wheel gearing comprising two toothed wheels I50, I5I (Figs. 7, 18, i9) and driven by the drum I02. The toothed wheels I50, I5I are mounted on the inner side of the right part 95 in the plane of the already mentioned pressure drum toothed wheel H9 and have the same diameters as the toothed wheels H9 and I41. Whereas the toothed wheel I meshes permanently with the toothed wheel II9 of the pressure drum I02 on one side and with the'toothed wheel I5I on the other side, the toothed wheel I41 onlymeshes with the toothed wheel I5I when its coordinate cap I25 is properly inserted. The toothed segment disc I48 (Figs. 7, 28, 33) then lies in the plane of the small toothed wheel I46 serving for driving the adding mechanism I44 (Figs. '1, 9), whereas the pin I 49 of the toothed segment disc I48 lies in the plane of the control arm I45 (Figs. 9, 18) serving for driving the step-by-step counter I43. pressure drum rotates, the toothed wheels II9, I50, I5I, I41 and the toothed segment disc I48 also participate in the rotation in the direction of the arrows. During this rotation the teeth of the toothed segment disc I41 come into mesh with 15 the driving toothed wheel I46 of the value adding mechanism I44 and feed the same as many units as the value of the stamp actually delivered (that is in the example illustrated 5") whereas shortly thereafter the pin I49 (Figs. 29, 33) swings out 50 the control arm I45 of the step-by-step counter I43 (Figs. 9, 18) in anti-clockwise direction and thus shifts on the counter by one unit. At the end of each rotation of the pressure drum the double gear I41, I48 again assumes the position of rest indicated in Fig. 33, in which it is immediately again locked by the pulling out of the stamp cap I25 from the machine. Consequently, during the removal of the cap from the machine, the double toothed wheel cannot be shifted and is therefore always in the position necessary for the proper engagement of the toothed wheel I41 in the coupling toothed wheel I5I. During the rotation of the pressure drum I02 a stamp, which has been severed during the preceding operation from the stamp strip I21 of the inserted cap I2 and moved along by the pressure drum in a manner which will be hereinafter described is first moistened and then stuck on to the letter to be stamped. The moistening of the stamp which, its picture side facing the pressure drum, is held by four small spikes I52 (Figs. 21, 22, 24) of the wall of the pressure drum, is effected by a moistening device which is constructed as follows:-

. The front cross bar 96 (Figs. 9, 10, 15) is ex- 15 It the 40' tended upward and carries on' this extension two forked-shaped guides I53 bent forward at right angles. After the removal of the inserted door 88 (Fig. 8) a water container I54 can he slipped between these'guides I53 and, resting with a pin I55 on each side in one of the forked guides I53, it can oscillate in this manner in the longitudinal direction of the machine. Each side wall of the water container I54 is extended at its lower end to form a rearwardly and downwardly inclined arm I56 (Figs. 7, 13, 14, 19). A moistening roller I51 made of felt or the like is arranged between means of a small tube I I with the hollow pin. -I60 in such a manner that, under certain circumstances hereinafter explained, the water filled into the container can flow through the tube I6I and the hollow pin I60 into the hollow axle I56 and saturate the moistening roller water through the perforations. The right con-j tainer arm I56 carries a small roller I62 which permanently bears againstthe edge of the right side wall II8 of the pressure drum under the weight of the water container I 54. This side wall, as shown in Fig. 19, is constructed as a cam disc. As long as the roller I62 rests on the full edge of the side wall II8, which is the case when the pressure drum I02 is in its inoperative position and during the remaining four fifths of its rotation, the water container I54 is held by the guide roller I52 in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 7, in which the moistening roller I51 is not in contact with the wall of the pressure drum. However, as soon as the pressure drum I02 commences to rotate, the roller drops into the edge recess in the side wall II8 shown in Fig. 19 and thus enables the water container I54 to swing towards the rear under the action of gravity. During this movement the moistening roller I51 presses lightly against the wall of the pressure drum I02 and during the first fifth of the rotation of the drum moistens the rear gummed side of the stamp moving under the moistening roller and held by the pins I 52 (Figs. 21, 22, 24). In order to prevent the pins I52, which are slidable in the drum wall, from being pushed back by the moistening roller I51, two annular grooves I63 (Fig. 13) are provided in the moistening roller and ensure a free passage for the pins I52 when the moistening roller I51 is rolling on the drum wall. As soon as the stamp has passed the moistening roller I51, the roller I62 again slides on to the full edge of the pressure drum side wall II8 (Fig. 19) and thus guides the water container I54 and the moistening roller I51 back into the inoperative position (Figs. 7, 19), in which they remain until the commencement of the next rotation of the pressure drum.

In the event of continual water flow to the moistening roller I51, there is a danger of this roller being moistened too much so that the machine is soiled. In order to avoid this, an automatic valve is arranged on the upper surface of the water container I 54 and allows the admission of air into the water container only for a short instant or two short instants during each operation of the machine. but which normally maintains the container air-tightly closed and thus prevents all discharge of water from the container. The valve comprises a circular bearing plate I51 with I63 (Figs. 9, 11, '12) which is soldered on the water container I 54 and has a small ventilation hole I 64. In the middle of the bearing plate I63 there is a vertical pin I65 on to which the hub I66 of a valve disc I61, freely rotatable on the bearing plate I63, is slipped. The valve disc I61 also, has a small hole I68, which, however, is so arranged that, when the valve disc I61 is in inoperative position, it does not accurately register with the ventilation hole I 64. This ventilation hole is therefore initially closed, that is no air can enter the water container and consequently no water can flow out of the container through the pipe I6I (Fig. 14). If, however, the valve disc I6I is turned in clockwise direction (Fig. 11) the hole I68 slides 15 over the ventilation hole I64 and allows air to pass into the water container for a short instant tocause a few drops of water to flow through the tube I6I to the moistening roller I51. This also occurs again when the valve disc I61 returns into its inoperative position, provided the angle displacement between the holes I64 and I66 is chosen so great, that it corresponds exactly to the angle of rotation of the valve disc I61; the ventilation hole I64 is then only exposed once, but it may be kept open as long as desired, because, as will be hereinafter described, the period during which the valve disc remains in swung-out position, is dependent upon the interval between the depressing of the knob 93 (Figs. 8 to 10) and the commencement of thepressure drum rotation. The valve disc I61, as shown in Fig. 11, is provided with an edge recess, one end of which, when the valve disc I61 is in its inoperative position, bears against an abutment pin I69 .or an upwardly bent nose on the bearing plate I63, whereas the other end of this recess may, if desired, serve for limiting the turning of the valve disc. On the upper end of the hub I66 a lug I10 is fixed which, together with the valve disc I61, rigidly connected therewith, is continually acted upon by a torsion spring HI and consequently always tends to assume its inoperative position. The downwardly directed nose of an arm I13 cooperates with the lug I12 and, being rigidly connected to the rod III, consequently participates in the movements of the rod. If the knob 93 of the rod I I I is pressed inwards for liberating the operating of the machine, the nose I12 of the arm I13 moves the lug I10 and consequently also the valve disc I 61, against the pressure of the loading spring I1I, into the position shown in dot-dash lines in Fig.- 11, in which position the said parts remain as long as the rod III is locked by the resilient nose II6 (Fig. 10a). As soon as the pressure drum I02 however, commences its rotation, the rod III is again automatically liberated and returns into its inoperative position (Figs. 9, 10) together with its arm I13, whereupon also the lug I16 and the valve disc I61 automatically return into the inoperative position by the action of the torsion spring "I. The friction between the bearing plate I63 and the valve disc I61 can be increased or decreased by more or less tightening the pin I65 construct- 65 ed as a screw. Consequently the duration of the air admission can be regulated as required. An aperture adapted to be closed by a screw cap I14 (Fig. 9) serves for filling fresh water into the container I54.

The stamp caps I25 and I26 (Figs. 28 to 33) are constructed in the following manner:-

In the centre of the box-shaped cap I 25 a pin I15 is arranged, which is fixed on the right side wall of the box-shaped cap extension i 36 and projects freely through an aperture I11 in the side I16 of the cap I25. Between the right side wall of the cap extension I26 and the cap side I18 a ratchet wheel lie is freely rotatable on a pin I15, the hub of this wheel having two lugs bent at right angles and projecting freely, like the pin I15, through the central aperture I11 in the cap side I16 into the interior of the cap I25. The hub I88 of a drum I8I is also rotatable on the pin I15, the side I82 of this drum having supports which bear against the side I16 of the cap I25, and a pinrality of holes I83 arranged in a circle. If, when the cap cover I32 is removed, the. hub I88 of the drum I8l is slipped on to the pin I15, the two lugs I19 provided on the ratchet wheel I18 engage in two diametrically opposite holes I83, the drum I8I being slightly turned if necessary, and thus couple the drum I8I with the ratchet wheel I18. Consequently the drum and ratchet wheel must always rotate together as long as they are coupled by the lugs I19. A pawl I84 cooperates with the ratchet wheel I18, is rotatable about a pin I85 arranged between the double gear I41, I48 and the ratchet wheel I18 and engages in the ratchet wheel I18 under the action of a pull spring I88 as soon as the stamp cap I25 is removed from the machine. If, however, the cap is slipped into the machine, the finger-shaped lower end I81 of the pawl I84 bears against a rigid abutment I88 (Fig. 33) of the side part of the frame with the result that, during the last portion of the cap movement, the pawl I84 swings out in anti-clockwise direction and is thus pulled out of the ratchet wheel I18. When the pawl I84 is in this position, the ratchet wheel I18 and the drum I8I can turn either in the one or. other direction. When, however, the pawl l84 engages inthe ratchet wheel I18 (Fig. 33) as when the stamp cap I25 is pulled back, it is only possible for the ratchet wheel I18 and the drum I8I o turn in clockwise direction.

A second pawl I89 also pivotally mounted on the pin I85, serves to lock the double toothed wheel I41, I48 in the inoperative position shown in Fig. 33, immediately after the removing of the stamp cap i25 out of the machine has begun and, as already mentioned, to thus ensure the proper engagement of the toothed wheels I41 and I5I when the cap is being reinserted into the machine. For this purpose a nose I9I of the pawl I89, when the stamp cap is withdrawn, engages under the pull of a spring I98 (Fig. 33) into the actually undermost tooth gap of the toothed segment disc I48, and only releases the same when, on reinserting the stamp cap into the machine, the lower finger-like end I92 of the pawl I89 bears against a second rigid abutment I93 of the rigid side part 95 of the frame and thus causes the pawl I89 to turn in anti-clockwise direction.

The drum I8I of each stamp cap serves for winding a stamp strip or for accommodating the strip in already rolled condition. The inner end of the stamp strip I21 is, for this purpose, slipped into a vertical slit I94 (Fig. 32) in the drum IM and clamped by an angular clamping device I95 rotatable on the drum hub I88. The stamp strip I21 is wound or slipped on to the drum in such a manner that it extends around the same from the inside to the outside in clockwise direction. The outer free end of the stamp strip is finally threaded through a horizontal slot I96 in the cap I25 into a guide formed by two U-shaped plates I91 I98 (Figs, 32, 37 to 39) in which it is secured in the manner hereinafter described. By turning v the drum I8 I in anti-clockwise direction the rolled stamp strip I21 is, if necessary, pulled slightly tighter and thus correspondingly stretched. When this has been effected, one end of a paper strip I99 is placed on the left side surface of the guide I91, I98 and secured by placing a sleeve 298 in the shape of a match box cover on the guide I91, I98. The sleeve 288 is in turn secured against unauthorized removal by placing on the cap I25 the cover I32, the edge of which engages over a small nose on the sleeve 288 and thus prevents the removal of the sleeve. The right, arcuate enlarged end 28I of the paper strip I99 (Fig. 28) is folded towards the left before slipping on the the cover I32 and, after the closing of the cap I25 by means of the cover is placed thereover in such a manner that a hole 282 in the enlarged right end 28I of the paper strip I99 is exactly over the upper end of the pin I15. The hollow shank 283 (Fig. 31) of a flat head 284, which shank has a plurality of longitudinal slits and is therefore resilient, is slipped on to the pin I15 until small sharp noses of the resilient shank portion engage in a corresponding annular groove in the pin I15 and thus provisionally prevent a removal of the knob 284. is provided in the middle of the cover I32 and has a diameter slightly larger than that of the knob 284. When the cap I25 is properly closed, this hole is covered by the paper strip end 28I and the knob 284 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 28.

Owing to the slightly smaller diameter of the knob 284 it is nevertheless possible to remove the cover but only by tearing the paper strip I99 at some point. Consequently it is impossible for an unauthorized person to open a stamp cap re- 1 moved from the machine and remove stamps without detection. The owner of the machine can himself only open the stamp cap by tearing the paper strip I99. If he wishes to remove the drum II, for example for the purpose of putting in a fresh stamp strip, he must first remove the cover I32, then slightly lift the drum and thus press the conically tapered hub I88 of this drum from below into the hollow shank 283 of the knob 284. As this shank, as already mentioned, has several A round hole I32a longitudinal slits and is therefore resilient, it will be spread through the upper end of the drum hub I88 so far that the above mentioned small noses disengage from the annular groove of the pin I15 and thus allow'the removal of the knob 284, whereupon the drum I8I can be pulled off the pin I15.

Moreover, any attempt to remove stamps from a stamp cap I25 by pulling the stamp strip I21 out of the guide I91, I98, 208 would be frustrated because for this purpose a rotation of the drum I8I is necessary which is prevented by the above mentioned cooperation of the pawl I84 (Fig. 33) with the ratchet wheel. I18. A small opening is provided in the cap wall directly in front of the finger-shaped lower end I81 of the pawl I84, through which opening the two abutments I88, I93 on the right side part 95 of the frame protrude into the cap I25 and can disengage the pawls I84 and I89. It would therefore be imaginabie that an unauthorized person could conceive the idea of inserting a rod or the like into this opening and thus oscillate the pawl I84 so far that it liberates the ratchet wheel I18. This attempt would, however, fail because the pawl I84 would probably only swing out so far that a second locking nose 285 provided on its lower end would engage the ratchet wheel I18. At the same time,

' wardly swung position (Fig. 17a).

small pins 225.

As soon as a stamp cap I25 is properly inserted in the machine, a length of the stamp strip corresponding to the height of a stamp is automatically pulled out of the cap every time the machine is operated, this length being then severed from the strip and subjected to a further treatment hereinafterdescribed. For this purpose the following arrangement is provided:

A bell crank lever- 208 is pivotally mounted on a pin 201 (Figs. 7, 9, 10, 15, 15a) on the left side part 94 of the frame, the lower arm of this lever being hinged to a horizontal link 209 and its upper arm to a vertical link 2). This link 2I0 is connected with the front end of a lever 2II pivotally mounted on a pin 2 I2 on the side part 94, whereas the horizontal link 2B9 engages the rear end of an arm 2I3, which forms the rearwardly directed extension of a carriage 2I4. This carriage is shiftable on a rail 2I5 which is fixed on. the front cross bar 96 by means of its front end bent at right angles. The lever 2II carries a guide roller 2I6 (Figs. 15, 15a) which engages in a cam groove 2" (Fig. '7) in the left end wall I08 of the pressure drum I02 and which, each time the machine is operated, causes the lever 2 to move downward out of its position of rest (Fig. 15) and then return into its initial position. Owing to the positive connection of the lever 2 with the elbow lever 208 and by this lever and the link 299, also with the carriage 2I4, this carriage is at the same time pulled towards the left on the rail 2I5 and then returned into its initial position (Fi 15).

On the right side of the carriage 2I4 (Figs. 16, 17, 17a) an angle rocker element 2I9 is rotatable about a pin 2I8, the oscillations of this element being limited by two set screws 220 bearing against the carriage 2 I4. A finger 22I on the rocker element 2I9 cooperates with a spring loaded pawl 222, also pivotally mounted on the right side wall of the carriage 2I4, in such amanner that the rocker element 2I9 is, at least to a certain extent, resiliently secured both in its position of rest (Fig. 1'?) and also in its down- The downwardly swinging movement of therocker element 2I9 is attained by a pressure spring 223 fixed on the free-end of the rail 2I5 the instant the carriage 2I4 has reached its extreme rearward position (Fig. 17a) in that this spring slides with gradually increasing pressure along the upper edge of the finger 22I rising towards the front.

The lower horizontal arm of the angle rocker element 2I9 carries a gripper arm 224 of the shape shown in Fig. 16, and has at the front end bent down at right angles in horizontal plane two As'soon as the carriage reaches its rearmost position (Fig. 17a) and therocker element 2I9 swings downwards, these two pins 225 engage in the actually foremost row of holes 226 (Fig. 41) of the stamp strip resting in the guide I91, I98 and consequently transport this istrip, during the following return movement of ithe carriage 2I4 and the gripper arm 224, that is, the stamp strip 121 is pulled out of the cap- I25 a length equal to one stamp because the stroke of the carriage 2I4 corresponds :exactly to the height of a stamp. It is evidentthat, to enable the pins 225 of the gripper arm 224 to actually engage in the row of perforations 226, these perforations must be situated exactly below the pins 225 at the instant when the rocker element 2 I 4 and the gripper arm 224 swing downwards. This is attained by the following arrangement:

The two U-shaped guide plates (Figs. 37-39) of the stamp strip guide have each an aperture open towards the front, so that the actually foremost stamp of the stamp strip I22 is guided only on the side edges, whereas in the middle it is free at the top and bottom. In the flanges of the lower guide plate a small axle 221 is journalled which is loaded by a torsion spring (not shown) in such a manner that it and a swan neck plate 228 fixed thereon always tend to turn in anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 39). This is, however, normally prevented by the finger-like bent end of the plate 228 bearing with slight pressure against the under side of the actually foremost stamp. On the axle 221 a light bail 229 is freely rotatable and tends to rotate in anticlockwise direction under the action of a second torsion spring 230. On the transverse arm of the bail 229 two small pins 23I are fixed which normally engage in two holes in the actually foremost row of perforations 226 of the stamp strip I21 resting in the guides I91, I98. The actually foremost stamp is thus normally held in a predetermined unchangeable position relative to the front edge of the guide I91, I98 and consequently, when the stamp cap is inserted, also relative to-the parts'of the machine drive. Only, when thebail 229 and therewith the pins 23! swing downwards, is the stamp strip I21-liberated and can begripped and pulled forward the length{ of one stamp by the pins 225 (Figs. 16, 17) of the gripper arm 224 in the manner above described. To enable the pins 23I of the bail 229 (Figs. 3'1, to 39) to clear the guide path during the introducing of the front end of the stamp strip into the guide I91, I98, and to ensure that these pins really engage in the actually foremost row of perforations 226, the bail 229 is provided with a small forwardly extending finger 232, which engages under the finger-like end of the plate 228. If this finger is depressed with one fingerof the hand holding the cap before introducing the front end of the stamp strip into the guide I91, I98, this pressure is imparted by the finger 232 also to the plate 228, and thus this plate is caused to swing in clockwise direction. The front end of the stamp strip is then pushed into the guide I91, I98 in such a manner that the foremost row of perforations 226 lies exactly over the pins 23I. As soon as the plate 228 springs back into its normal position, when the pressure is removed, these pins will immediately engage in this row of perforations and temporarily secure the stamp strip I21 against any longitudinal shifting, which, as already men tioned is a condition for the proper engagement first release the stamp strip. For this purpose an axle 293 is arranged above the upper guide plate plate I91, the rearwardly directed free end of thisspring being bent up at an incline. This spring lies in the path of the free downwardly bent end of the gripper arm 224 (Fig. 16) in such a manner that, during the forward movement of the gripper arm, that is during its movement towards the left as shown in Figs. 16, 1'1, this end of the arm first slides along the upper surface of the spring 231 in order to be finally slightly lifted by the upwardly bent end of this spring against the pressure of the spring 223 acting on the rocker element 2I4 (Fig. 17). However, as soon as the front end of the gripper arm 224 has passed the upwardly bent end of the spring 231, the full pressure of the-spring 223 acts on the rocker element 2I4, swing this together with the gripper arm 224 in downward direction, thereby overcoming the slight resistance offered by the pawl 222, and thus causes the end 05 the gripper arm 224 to bear with such pressure bn the sheet metal flap 234 supported'by the pin 235 (Figs. 37 to 39) that this flap is pressed downwards. This pressure is also transmitted to the bail 229 by the pin 235; consequently this bail swings downwards and pulls the pins 23I out of the row of perforations 226 in the stamp strip 21 in which they were previously engaged. During the downward movement of the gripper arm 224 its pins 225 now engage inthe row of perforations and subsequently transport the stamp strip I21 a distance of one stamp length during the return movement of the carriage 2M and the gripper arm 224 into their inoperative positions (Figs. 16, 1'1). The free end of the gripper arm 224 is compelled by the upwardly bent end of the spring 231 (Fig. 39) to slide along the under side of this spring, and shortly before reaching its inoperative position slides on to and is again lifted by a short upwardly inclined surface 238 (Figs. 16, 34-36). At the same time the rocker element 2|4 overcoming the resistance of the pawl 222 also returns out of its downwardly swung position (Fig. 17a) into the position shown in Fig. 1'7, so that all parts of the carriage 2I4 are again in the inoperative position and consequently ready for the next operation.

The release of the stamp strip. 121 is effected directly under the blade 239 of a severing device whichis constructed in the following manner:-

A small vertical frame 248 (Figs. 34 to 36) is fixed on the under side of the angle piece In (Figs; 7, 9, 18), this frame having in its under edge a rectangular aperture 24I. This aperture is closed at the bottom by a bar 242 fixed by screws on two lateral flanges of the frame 249 and lies exactly in alignment with the' stamp guide I91, I98 (Figs. 28, 30, 32) and of the. gripper arm 224 (Figs. 16,17), which slides through the aperture .2 during its reciprocating .movement. The blade 239 is vertically shiftable between lateral guide -bars 243 of the frame on the rearwardly directed surface of the frame 240. A small U- strap 245 can move up shaped strap 245 is fixed by means of a screw 244 on the front surface of the blade. 239. This and down in a vertical slot in the frame 248 and controls the blade 239. The strap 245'is controlled by a lever 246 (Figs. 9, 18), the free rounded end of which engages between the two horizontal arms of the strap 245 and is rigidly connected with a bell crank 241 by means of its hub. The lever 246 and bell crank 241 are jointly rotatable about a pin 248 in the right side part of the frame and are acted upon by the pull of a spring 249. Under the action of this spring the lower arm of the bell crank 241 cooperates with a cam disc 250 fixed on the right side surface of the toothed wheel I59 in such a manner that the lever 246 during the operation, is pushed slowly and. thus guides the strap 245 and the blade 239 (Figs. 34 to 36) out of their inoperative position into their upper extreme position (Fig, 36). The-path of the blade 23 is liberated directly before the termination of each operation of the machine, that is at the moment at which the pins 225 (Figs. 16, 17) of the gripper arm 224 have again liberated the row of perforations 226 of the stamp strip I21 exactly below the blade 239 (Figs. 34 to 36) in that a small inclined surface 238 (Figs. 16, 34, 35) on a bent portion of the frame 249 slides on the bent end of the gripper arm. At this instance the lower arm of the bell crank lever 241 slides from the highest point of the earn 259 and thus causes the bell crank lever 241, the lever 246 and also the strap 245 with the blade 239 to precipitately drop into the inoperative position (Figs. 18, 36a) under the action of the relatively strong spring 249 (Fig. 18). The blade 239 thus severs along the row of perforations 226 the stamp pulled forward by the gripper arm 224 and resting with its rear edge on the bar 242. The end of the stamp strip I21 thus liberated and slightly pressed downwards by the blade edge bears against the oppositely bent and slightly enlarged lower ends 25I (Figs. 36, 36a) of a slidelike plate 252 which can also slide up and down between the guide bars 243 on the frame 248 and has a guide slot 253 through which the shank of 40 the screw 244 extends. Owing to the arrangement of this elongated guide slot 253 the blade 239 and the plate 252 cooperate in such a manner that they do not immediately participate in the upward and downward movements of the blade but only in the second half thereof, and consequently move in retard of the movements of the blade. The result is that, during the downward movement of the blade 239, the frame ends 25I first participate in the supporting of the stamp strip I25 in the plane of the bar 242 but then yield slightly in downward direction and thus guide the liberated end of the stamp strips out of the path of the gripper arm pins 225. During the next operation the gripper arm-224 can thus slide freely towards the rear through the frame aperture 24I without its pins 225 upsetting the stamp strip I21. During the upward stroke of the blade 239, however, the frame ends 25I lift the free end of the stamp strip into the plane of the bar 242 shortly before'the stripis again pulled forward by the gripper, arm 224, so that the free end of the stamp strip can slide freely over the bar when being transported by the gripper arm 224 and come into the position necessary for severing the stamp pulled forward.

A second lever 254 (Figs. 9, 18) is rigidly con- -nected with the lever 246 and is bent at right angles at its free end first horizontally and then vertically like a bayonet and has a forked presser foot 255. The lever 254 oscillates together with the lever 248 about the pin 248 and is connected with the lever 246 by a screw 256 which extends through a vertical slot in the lever 254. This As already mentioned, the bolt 26I carrying arrangement enables the-presser foot 255 to be adjusted in height as desired. The object of this presser foot is, to press the foremost stamp, severed by the blade 239, on to the pins I 52 of the pressure drum I02 (Figs. 21, 22, 24) at the instant when the blade 239 (Figs. 34-36) precipitately slides downwards, the stamp being then held on the drum wall by these pins. The stamp now lies with its longitudinal axis in the direction of rotation of the pressure drum I02 at the moment when it is forced on to the pins I52, and, if it were to remainin this position, would be affixed standing sideways on the article to be stamped. As it is evident that this is not desirable, the stamp must before being ailixed be turned through an angle of 90 and thus be brought the right Way up relative to the package to be stamped. Moreover, the pins I52 must also be withdrawn from the stamp in order to liberate it for aflixing. For these two purposes the pressure drum I02 is constructed in the following manner:

An elongated U-shapcd strap 258 is clamped between the two end walls I08 and H8 of the pressure drum I02, which walls are held together by three stay bolts- 251. This strap 258 has in eachof its two arms two bearing bores, the axes of which are radial to the axis of the pressure drum. Two discs 259, rigidly interconnected by a square 260, rotate one in each of these bores. The discs 259 and the square 260 are provided with a. common longitudinal bore, in which a bolt 26I can shift radially to the pressure drum wall.

On the outer end of this bolt 26I a small disc 262 is fixed which carries the four pins I52. These pins project through four corresponding holes provided in the bottom of hood 263, rigidly connected with the outer disc 259. On the inner side of the second disc 259 a toothed wheel 264 is flxed, which carries four teeth mutually displaced through an angle of 90. Whenthe rigid unit, formed by the discs 259, the square 260, the hood 265 and the toothed wheel 264, rotates in the bearing formed by the arms of the strap 258, the disc 262 with its pins I52 and also the stamp actually pressed thereon must participate in this rotation owing to the engagement of the pins I52 in the holes in the hood 263. The

rotation of the parts in question is effected by the fact that, during each rotation of the pressure drum I02 and of the parts arranged thereon around the stationary axle IOI, one of the four teeth of the toothed wheel 264 always engages a lug 265 of a collar 266 provided on the axle IOI.' The tooth in question is arrested and thus causes a part rotation of the toothed wheel 264 and of the part connected therewith including the disc 262 and its pins I52. To ensure that the part rotation is each time through an angle of 90 as is necessary for the desired turning of the stamp into the proper position, two blade springs 261 are fixed on the inner side of the bottom of the strap 258 and cooperate with the square 260 on opposite sides thereof in such amanner that the square must positively continue the part rotationsimparted to it by the lug 265 and the toothed wheel 264 until it has turned through 90. The'blade springs 261 then bear on the two hitherto exposed flat facesof the square 260 and thus secure the unit formed by the parts 259, 260, 262, I52, 263, 264 in its new position.

The liberation of the stamp actually held, by the retraction of the pins I52 into alignment with the pressure drum wall is effected'in the'followin; manner:

94, 95. The under side of this axle is flattened in the plane of the bolt 26I in the manner illustrated in Fig. 21 and also on its rear side. As

soon as the pins I52 carrying the stamp bear against the surface of the package to be stamped during the rotation of the pressure drum I02, these pins, as the inner end of the bolt 26I, can engage the flattened portion 268 of the axle IOI, yield into the four holes of the hood 263 so far,

that their points finally lie in alignment with the wall surface of the pressure drum I02 and consequently liberate the stamp which is then affixed on the postal package by the pressure of the pressure drum if it has just previously been moistened on its back by the above described moistening device. The bolt 26I the disc 262 and the pins I52 then remain in retracted position until the pressure drum I02 has rotated through about three quarters of its entire-circumference. The inner end of the bolt 26I then again runs on to the solid wall surface of the axle MI and is thus again pressed outwardly so that the pins project from the wall of the pressure drum and are ready to receive the next stamp.

To prevent the stamp actually pierced from springing off the wall surface of the pressure drum I02 owing to the elasticity of the stamp, this 35 drum is connected on its front portion by a bent guide plate 269 (Figs. 9, 15) on the lower edge' der it possible for the moistening roller I51 (Figs.

'7, 13) to come in contact with the gummed back of the stamp. The moistening roller I51 provided on both sides of. the pair of already mentioned annular grooves I63 has further annular grooves situated in the path. of the wires 210 (Fig. 15) and in which grooves the wire in question lies exposed during the moistening of the stamp back without hindering the stroke and rotation of the moistening roller I51. At the end of the wires 210 the stamp finally comes into contact with the postal package to be stamped in order to be then like are printed beside the stamp. All these printings are carried out by curved printing plates 21I, 212, 213 (Fig. 21) of which the plate 21I,has

a circular aperture in the middle, which is filled by the bottom of the hood 263'and the pins I52 shiftable therein. The defacing printing consequently has a small gap in the middle as shown in Fig. 25. At the same time as the defacing of the stamp the control number of the machine, for example 371 is printed on the upper edge of the stamp and on the portion of the package di- 

